Joshna Bags Victorian Title W15 (27 Jul – 2 Aug15)

Indian champion Joshana Chinappa kept her date with glory after she beat Line Hansen, the second seed from Denmark 11-5, 11-4, 11-9 to bag the title in the $15,000 Victorian Open, held in Melbourne.

It was a comprehensive win attained in just 32 minutes stay on court and the Indian in the process made it her 10th professional title, the last being in the Richmond Open in April last year.

Known for her dexterity in mixing strokes and accuracy in the placements, the Indian held the upper-hand right through though, as she admitted, it was a “hard game” particularly after Line fought and brought the score to nine-all in the third game.

Earlier, in the semi final, the third seed Indian defeated Australia’s Christine Nunn, the eighth seed, who had accounted for the top seed Rachael Grinham. Christine could not rise up to challenge the Indian national champion and went down in straight games 11-7, 11-5, 11-9.

For the other Indian Mahesh Mangaonkar however it proved curtains as he fell to the top seed Ryan Cuskelly of Australia in the semi final. Ryan had dropped just one game right through the competition and ensured it remained that way with a straight game win 11-6, 11-6, 11-6. Steve Finitsis (Aus) was the conqueror of upcoming star Kush Kumar in the quarterfinal.